It said the latest incidents revealed 'grave deficits in leadership' at the facility and promised serious consequences.

'Discharge proceedings have been initiated against seven soldiers and seven additional soldiers will be moved to different postings,' a spokesman for the German defence ministry said.

Hans-Peter Bartels, who fields complaints from soldiers for parliament, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper the incidents reflected lingering 'macho behaviour that should not be tolerated'.

Bartels' told lawmakers in his annual report this week that the number of reported sexual assaults in the military rose 52 percent to 131 in 2016, but the actual number was likely higher.